GMAT Data Insights: Table Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In Table Analysis questions, what is the primary purpose of being able to sort columns?
- To quickly identify rankings, extremes, and relationships in the data (Correct answer)
- To delete irrelevant rows from the table
- To change the underlying values of the data
- To merge two columns into one
Correct answer: To quickly identify rankings, extremes, and relationships in the data
Sorting helps you find maximums, minimums, and ordered relationships without manual comparison.
Question 2: A Table Analysis statement reads 'more than half of the regions had revenue above $50M.' How do you verify it?
- Count regions above $50M and compare to half the total number of regions (Correct answer)
- Sum all revenue and divide by the number of regions
- Find the region with the highest revenue only
- Check only the first row of the table
Correct answer: Count regions above $50M and compare to half the total number of regions
A 'more than half' claim requires counting qualifying rows against half the row total.
Question 3: Each Table Analysis question presents statements that you must evaluate as which of the following?
- True/False or Yes/No based only on the table (Correct answer)
- Free-response essays
- Multiple-choice with five options
- Ranked from best to worst
Correct answer: True/False or Yes/No based only on the table
Table Analysis uses dichotomous (Yes/No, True/False) judgments grounded in the table.
Question 4: If a column shows percentages that total 100% across categories, what does this typically indicate?
- The categories partition a whole, so shares can be compared directly (Correct answer)
- The data contains an error
- Each row is independent of the others
- The values are raw counts, not proportions
Correct answer: The categories partition a whole, so shares can be compared directly
Percentages summing to 100% mean the categories are mutually exclusive parts of one whole.
Question 5: To find the median of a numeric column in a sortable table, the most efficient approach is to:
- Sort the column and select the middle value(s) (Correct answer)
- Add all values and divide by the count
- Pick the largest value
- Use the first value in the original order
Correct answer: Sort the column and select the middle value(s)
Sorting lines values up in order, making the central value the median.
Question 6: A statement claims two columns are positively correlated. What pattern would support this in the table?
- As one column's values increase, the other column's values also tend to increase (Correct answer)
- One column stays constant while the other changes
- The two columns sum to a fixed total
- The columns contain identical values
Correct answer: As one column's values increase, the other column's values also tend to increase
Positive correlation means higher values in one column accompany higher values in the other.
Question 7: Why is it risky to answer a Table Analysis statement using outside business knowledge?
- Answers must be supported strictly by the data in the table (Correct answer)
- The table is always wrong
- Outside knowledge is never relevant to business
- You should never use math on the GMAT
Correct answer: Answers must be supported strictly by the data in the table
Table Analysis tests reasoning from the given data, not external assumptions.
